Prevalence, Predictors, and Nonpharmacological Interventions for Preoperative Anxiety in Elective Noncardiac Surgery Patients in Yemen: Path Analysis

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a common concern among patients undergoing surgery and can negatively influence surgical outcomes. Despite its significant influence, there is a paucity of studies exploring preoperative anxiety in patients from Yemen. Objective: To determine the prevalence, predictors, and role of nonpharmacological interventions in mitigating preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 534 patients who underwent noncardiac surgery using a convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, anxiety-responsible factors, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support from November 1 to December 30, 2023. Results: The study found that 29.8% of patients experienced preoperative anxiety. Significant predictors included low education, prior surgery history, ASA physical status II, information needs, and anxiety-responsible factors ( P < 0.05). Path analysis showed a significant direct effect of social support on reducing preoperative anxiety (β = −0.61), and indirectly through its influence on anxiety-responsible factors (β = −0.78) and unmet information needs (β = −0.95). Conversely, increased anxiety-responsible factors and unmet information needs led to increased preoperative anxiety (β =0.16, β =0.24, respectively). Conclusion: This study underscored that preoperative social support and information provision are pivotal in mitigating preoperative anxiety. Therefore, it is imperative for health-care professionals, including nurses, physicians, and anesthetists working in hospitals, to enhance social support and provide comprehensive information related to anesthesia and surgery to patients.